Just by hearing these sounds, Ye Qian already knew Yue Ming had arrived.
Creak!
The door eased open, and a flushed Yue Ming stood nervously at the threshold.
She wore the typical 'uniform' Ye Qian preferred for his bathing hours—a thin gown that left little to the imagination.
It revealed just enough skin to kindle desire while covering enough to avoid vulgarity or decadence. The perfect balance.
The moment she pushed the door wide, she found Ye Qian reclined in a chair, eyes closed.
She froze at the entrance, too nervous to step inside.
Ye Qian, who had been lounging with his eyes shut, cracked them open slowly. His dark gaze drifted toward Yue Ming at the doorway.
"You're finally here. For a moment, I thought you'd fled and left me waiting."
The words struck her like a physical blow. Her body trembled.
She forced herself forward, though anxiety coiled tight around her throat like a strangling hand.
With difficulty, she lifted her legs and crossed the threshold, coming to stand before Ye Qian in rigid silence.
A smile flickered through Ye Qian's eyes as he studied her—refined figure taut with tension, head bowed, face tinged with color.
He stood up and leaned close, whispering into her ear.
"The water is going cold. Hurry and bathe your Young Master."
Heat invaded her ear, turning it bright red.
Ye Qian straightened and spread his arms wide, waiting for Yue Ming to undress him.
Trembling, Yue Ming raised her gaze to find him so close, arms extended in clear expectation.
She swallowed hard. Her jade-like hands lifted, shaking as they grasped the fabric of his robes.
She had never done such a thing in her life—bathing a man was something she'd never imagined herself doing.
Yet here was the reality, undeniable and inescapable.
She could not refuse. She had to do it.
After removing all of Ye Qian's garments and carefully setting them aside for later cleaning, Yue Ming stood rigidly in place, her body locked, not daring to move.
A thin sheen of sweat had formed on her forehead, betraying just how nervous she was.
Splash! Splash!
Ye Qian strode into the pool, leaned against the edge, and turned his head to observe Yue Ming, who remained motionless on solid ground.
"Silly girl. Don't tell me you plan to bathe me from up there. Come join me."
Her body jerked at the command. She twisted her neck stiffly to look at the pool.
Step by step, she edged toward it, her body trembling faintly as she went.
With her arms crossed protectively over her chest, Yue Ming felt her heart hammering too fast, her breath coming short.
She had never been so nervous in her entire life.
Splash! Splash!
After slipping off her shoes and easing into the water, Yue Ming's dress absorbed the liquid instantly.
Her curvaceous figure, every exquisite line, displayed itself perfectly before Ye Qian.
He simply watched from his position against the pool's edge, seemingly content to wait for her next move.
Yue Ming felt her breath catch. Nervously, she used her small hands to wipe gently at Ye Qian's body.
Her eyes squeezed shut. She didn't dare open them.
Ye Qian shook his head and pinched her chin, turning her face toward his.
"How can you wash me with your eyes closed like this?
Do your job properly. You don't want me to lose my patience."
At that moment, Ye Qian was like a tyrant, and Yue Ming a helpless girl at his mercy.
Threatened, Yue Ming understood there was no escape now. What would happen would happen.
She cracked her eyes open slightly and found Ye Qian impossibly close. The urge to shut them again surged through her.
But remembering his warning, she forced herself to keep them open.
Her nervous hands moved over him gently.
Despite the turmoil inside, her touch remained tender and precise. In the end, she would not let herself falter if she could help it.
Yue Ming, who had been served by maids since childhood as a young lady of a prominent family, had never imagined she would one day bathe a man.
In the past, she would never have believed this could happen to her.
But this was her reality now. She was powerless to resist and could only endure in silence.
If Ye Qian lost patience with her, the consequences would be even worse. She was a lamb led to slaughter, without power to resist.
Whatever Ye Qian commanded, she had to obey—and she had to do it well, without error.
[Ding! Yue Ming felt greatly humiliated, became more afraid of the Master, and her Loyalty increased by 3 points.]
Unexpectedly, just by taking a leisurely bath, Ye Qian gained another three Loyalty points from his maidservant.
Not bad at all.
Her Loyalty had now reached eighty-eight points.
Ye Qian studied Yue Ming, so close to him, and slowly extended his hands.
In one smooth motion, he stripped away her last line of defense. Her gown, along with any hope of regaining her freedom, slipped away from her.
She was left utterly at the mercy of this grasping Young Master.
...
The bathing process stretched for nearly an hour.
When Ye Qian finally emerged from the pool, Yue Ming was drenched from head to toe, damp hair clinging to both sides of her face.
She lay motionless in the water. Her face burned crimson, and weakness pervaded her entire body.
If not for her hands gripping the pool's edge, she would have sunk beneath the surface.
She didn't dare leave the water at that moment—mainly because in her current state, she would be completely exposed if she emerged.
The steam concealed her shame better than any towel could.
Ye Qian had already left the pool and begun sipping spirit tea when he noticed the prolonged silence behind him.
He glanced back and saw Yue Ming, face flushed, leaning against the pool's edge in what appeared to be shock.
"What? Are you reluctant to come out?
Your duties aren't fulfilled yet. Do you think I'll dress myself?"
The words struck her like another blow. She felt even more wronged, and her eyes reddened slightly.
She had never suffered such humiliation.
Not only did she have to undress and 'bathe' Ye Qian, but she also had to dress him afterward.
The problem was, Yue Ming didn't even possess the strength to resist. She could only accept it silently.
Having barely recovered some energy, she pushed herself up from the pool's edge and walked out slowly.
Although no other relations had occurred in the pool, virtually every necessary contact had been made.
In other words, her shocked state wasn't due to Ye Qian crossing that final line with her.
On the contrary, it stemmed from his relentless teasing—ruthless and calculated, with the sole objective of making her forget herself.
To the point where she would have begged him for release if she were slightly less prideful.
Compared to before, Yue Ming's willingness to accept his advances had clearly grown stronger.
Her mind swirled with conflicting emotions.
Face burning, she dragged her weakened body from the pool and moved slowly toward Ye Qian.
After donning her discarded gown once more, she proceeded to arrange Ye Qian to perfection.
By the time she finished, Yue Ming's eyes had softened like water, hinting at something dangerously close to flirtation.
"Young... Young Master, it's... it's done."
Her voice was barely audible. Speaking at all required enormous effort.
Ye Qian's lips curved slightly. He caressed Yue Ming's face gently.
"You did well for your first time. In the future... keep up the good work."
With that, he turned and strode from the room.
Outside the door, Xia He and Qiu Lan waited quietly.
He spoke casually as he passed them, not sparing them a glance.
"Don't just stand there blankly. Go help her.
Otherwise, I'm afraid she won't be able to leave the bath chamber tonight."
Then Ye Qian departed.
He left Xia He and Qiu Lan standing rooted to the spot, faces flushed, at a complete loss.
"The Young Master is truly..."
Qiu Lan complained in a low voice, her face burning.
"Qiu Lan, stop talking nonsense. Hurry inside and check on Yue Ming."
"Yes, Sister."